Imam Khomeini the religious leader of the Muslim world called on all Muslims to undusted deeper philosophy of Hajj pilgrimage and social and spiritual issues surrounding this mass congregation of great significance.
Imam believed that the preachers had failed to mention and explain for the general public and common people the real perspectives of this great pillar of Islam.
The great intellectual and scholar of Islam also used to issue regular messages on the Feast of Sacrifices and Hajj in order to elucidate the real philosophy of these Islamic rituals.
According to Imam, the great significance of Hajj with its magnificent functions has led to the fact that no other practice of worshiping can ever be an equal to it or take its place. It is quoted from the holy prophet of Islam, who said:
“There is nothing superior to Hajj except ‘prayers’, but prayers are performed in Hajj too”.
This is because Hajj, in comparison with other religious practices, is the only worshiping that it is performed in a lively and enthusiastic move together with the announcement of disgust to the polytheists and disbelievers.
The Imam became successful in 1933 (1312 solar and 1352 lunar calendar) to visit the house of God once in his life. This journey to Hajj, which was made with a lot of hardships, had a pleasant and agreeable memory for him. He told the story of that pilgrimage as follows:
“I went on pilgrimage to Mecca only once in my life. When I set off, I used different means of transportation. This trip took me 17 days to reach there.”
The Imam was not negligent of guiding the people even on the Hajj trip; he was chosen as the clergyman of the caravan to teach the people the rites of pilgrimage as his legitimate duties.
The great scholar of the Muslim world maintained that the Ibrahim-like Hajj plays a very valuable role not only in the political and social life of the Muslims but also in the fate of all human beings.
The great Muslim scholar says in this regard as following:
“The precept of Hajj among other percepts enjoys a special characteristic; perhaps it is because the political and social aspect of Hajj is prior to its religious perspective.”
The great leader of the Muslim world called Hajj a means of strengthening the Islamic religion and source of establishing unity among the Muslim Ummah.
This concept is also supported by the Islamic traditions. According to the holy prophet of Islam and his infallible successors, as long as Hajj is properly performed and is given magnificence, the Divine Religion will remain powerful with its flag hoisted and fluttering.
According to Imam Khomeini’s viewpoint, the enemies of Islam struggle to show the glorious congregation of Hajj less attractive and make it avoid of its excellent political-social content.
“That kind of Hajj can be fruitful if it is spirited, animated, with the people risen against oppression and for the unity. That kind of Hajj is useful and can cause to shake the bases of atheism, polytheism, and intimidate the enemies of Islam. On this basis, Hajj will have lots of political benefits; so Muslims are obligated to struggle to gain that benefit,” the great Imam said.
Imam also maintains that Hajj is one of the effective factors in thwarting the conspiracies that are planned to cause disunion among Muslims and disrupt the unity of the Islamic communities.
Imam guided in this regard as following:
“Hajj is the manifestation and reiteration of all pleasant, enthusiastic scenes in a man’s life and a perfect society in the world. The ceremonies of the pilgrimage to Mecca are the same ceremonies of life. Since the Islamic peoples’ society of all races and nations must become Ibrahim- like, it must be linked to the great nation of the prophet Mohammad (SA) to constitute a single entity. Hajj is the regulating and practicing scene for the formation and organization of such a monotheistic life.”
Imam has explained numerous worldly and spiritually benefits from this spiritual mass congregation in several speeches and writings especially in his comprehensive book on Hajj. Imam believed that the Hajj should be used as global forum and platform to solve the social, economic, moral and political issues facing the Muslim world.